Steam generator



Nov. 18, 1941.

W; HOLMES STEAM GENERATOR Filed May 25, 1940 Inventor M/I//V //o/mes A iiorneys Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in steam generating means particularly for home use and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of this character which is adapted to be connected for operation to a conventional domestic hot water heater.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a domestic steam generating apparatus of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is a view in front elevation, showing a steam generating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present in- Vention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral l designates the usual hot water storage tank having connected thereto a supply pipe 2 and a delivery or outlet pipe 3. The tank I is connected by pipes 4 and 5 to the upper and lower ends of a vertical coil 6 which is mounted in a suitable heating plant I. Interposed in the pipes 4 and 5 are valves 8 and 9.

The reference numeral It designates a steam expansion tank of suitable dimensions which is mounted above the horizontal plane of the pipes 4 and 5. A steam intake pipe II connects the expansion tank In to the pipe 4 at a point between the valve 8 and the coil 6. A fluid return pipe l2 connects the expansion tank H] to the pipe 5 at a point between the valve 9 and the coil 6. Control valves l3 and I4 are interposed in the pipes II and I2.

The expansion tank I is provided with a suitable pressure gauge l5. The reference numeral I6 designates a safety valve for the tank In. Steam from the tank I0 is delivered to any suitable point through a pipe H. The tank I 0 is further provided with a gauge l8.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the valves l3 and i4 closed and the valves 8 and 9 open, water from the tank I circulates through the pipe 5, the coil 6 where it is heated and returned to said tank through the pipe 4. When steam is desired, the valves 8 and 9 are closed and the valves I3 and M are opened. Thus, the tank I is shut 01f from the coil 6 and the comparatively small quantity of water in the system on the coil side of the valves 8 and 9 is caused to circulate through the pipe II, the tank It] and the pipe I2 and is soon converted to steam.

It is believed that the many advantages of a steam generating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of said apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a domestic hot Water storage tank and a heating coil connected thereto by pipes provided with control valves, a steam tank located in a plane above said pipes, pipes connected to said first mentioned pipes between the coil and said valves and connected to the steam tank, control valves in said second mentioned pipes and located between said steam tank and the first named pipes, a gauge on said steam tank for indicating the amount of water therein admitted from said hot water tank when all of said valves are in an open position, and a valved steam outlet pipe connected to the steam tank.

WILEY HOLMES. 

